Plans for a military operation against Iran had to be postponed due to an unexpected incident involving the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, which was forced to request emergency dry dock facilities in Greece because its sewage system failed. The vessel, which cost the US budget $13 billion to build and was launched in 2017, faced a problem that prevented it from carrying out its combat missions.

President Trump had previously repeatedly called this aircraft carrier the largest and most modern in world history, as well as a work of art. According to him, this ship is a 100,000-ton message to the world, built from American steel by the hands of American workers, intended to let allies sleep soundly and strike fear into enemies. It was emphasized that nothing like it exists anywhere else in the world and that this carrier represents the future of naval aviation and the centerpiece of American military power.

However, a technical malfunction related to the failure of the life support system threw a wrench into these bold statements. Instead of demonstrating strength off the coast of a potential adversary, the ship, carrying 4,500 personnel and 70 aircraft, found itself dealing with a plumbing issue in a Greek port. The breakdown on the most advanced military vessel called into question the reliability of the systems meant to ensure its autonomy and combat effectiveness. The promised expansion of US power projection capabilities turned into a need for emergency repairs far from the zone of a potential conflict.